Politics & Government

Barack, Michelle Obama Reveal Updated Presidential Center Plans In Chicago

The former first couple return to the city Wednesday to discuss the proposed center in Jackson Park.

CHICAGO, IL — The Obamas might still be Washington, D.C., residents for the foreseeable future, but that doesn't mean the former first couple hasn't abandoned Chicago. Last week, former President Barack Obama made his first public speech and appearance since leaving the White House in January at a forum on community organizing at the University of Chicago. This week, he and former First Lady Michelle Obama will be back in town to update plans for their Obama Presidential Center on the South Side.

SIGN UP: Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for the South Side and Chicago — or other neighborhoods. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.

The Obamas will participate in an invitation-only community event Wednesday at the South Shore Cultural Center — where the couple celebrated their marraige in 1992 — to unveil a conceptual model of the proposed center in Jackson Park, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The former president also will be part of a roundtable discussion that will let attendees share their thoughts and opinions about the multi-use site. Mayor Rahm Emanuel and other community leaders are scheduled to attend, the report added.

Find out what's happening in Chicagowith free, real-time updates from Patch.


More Patch Coverage

Obamas Pick Presidential Library Site: The president and first lady have made their selection.

Find out what's happening in Chicagowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Barack Obama Returns To Chicago For 1st Time Since Leaving Office: The former president was in town Wednesday to discuss the creation of his new center in Jackson Park.


Spearheaded by the Obama Foundation, the Obama Presidential Center is being designed by husband-and-wife architects Billie Tisen and Tod Williams. Although certain aspects of the center — such as the museum and library — are solidfied, the Obamas still need to decide on programs so the architects can finalize the designs, the report stated. Groundbreaking on the presidential center is planned for next year.

While in town Wednesday, Obama also is scheduled to speak to the Civic Committee of the Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago at The Chicago Club, 81 E. Van Buren St., the Sun-Times reports. The dinner speech — which will include the former chief executive talking about his time in the Oval Office — is an attempt by Obama, who is not charging for the event, to woo possible big spenders on the Civic Committee's board willing to help build and endow his center, the report added.

More via the Chicago Sun-Times


Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama attend the Kennedy Center Honors show Dec. 4 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Aude Guerrucci-Pool | Getty Images News | Getty Images)

Like What You're Reading? Stay Patched In!


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here